Traffic signal



March 18, 1941. THiEL 2,235,181

TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed Sept; 5, 19:9

I INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 18, 1941 PATENT OFFICE TRAFFIC SIGNAL Frank Thiel,

Application September 1 Claim.

The present invention pertains to a novel signaling device for motorvehicles and is suitable for use on trucks as Well as passengervehicles.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a signal that isboth illuminated and movable and which automatically stops after makinga predetermined number of oscillations without further attention by thedriver after the starting operation of pressing a switch. Another objectof the invention is to provide a device of this character, which, whenidle, is concealed behind the usual side view mirror. Thus, this signalis also within view of the driver and he can see directly whether or notthe signal is operating, thereby dispensing with a pilot light orsimilar auxiliary signal.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensivemechanism for effecting the automatic operation described above.

In the accomplishment of these objects the signal is in the form of anarm pivotally attached to the lower end of the bracket arm of the sideview mirror. This end is constructed in the form of a housing containingthe operating mechanism.

The circuit for the actuating motor is grounded through this housing.The motor is geared to the arm through a suitable oscillating linkage.The circuit also comprises a contact piece which oscillates with the armand another contact member in the nature of a ratchet driven by thefirst contact member as a pawl. The ratchet member is in electricalcontact with the housing, but the latter has a dead or insulated spotengaged by the ratchet member once during each revolution of the latter,and thus breaking the circuit once in each revolution. The number ofratchet teeth determines the number of oscillations made by the arm ineach operation.

The operating motor is also comprised in another circuit having astarting switch in the form of a spring-returned push button. Thus, themotor can turn the ratchet off from the dead spot in the housing, andthereafter another circuit is established through the motor and housingto continue operating the device. The starting motor circuit has in themeantime been opened by return of the push button to open position.

The invention also embodies a unique oscillating linkage so constructedas to reduce to a minimum the amount of play in the oscillating arm andalso to increase the amplitude of the oscillation.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of Detroit, Mich.

5, 1939, Serial No. 293,33

example in the following description and in the accompanying drawing inwhich:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the device;

Figure 2 is a section, in a parallel plane, of the housing andillustrating the oscillating mechanism;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side view of the pawl and ratchet contact device and,

Figure 6 is a wiring diagram.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characterswhich are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

In Figure l the numeral I designates generally a suitable portion of theside wall structure of a motor vehicle for supporting a side viewmirror. Within the vehicle is suitably mounted a small electric motor 2having a flexible shaft armor 3 passed through a bushing 4 extendingthrough the wall I and fastenedtherein by nuts 5.

To the outer end of the armor 3 is secured a metal housing 6, andadditional supporting means may be provided if the armor is likely tobend under the weight of the casing B and associated parts. The motorshaft 1 extends into the casing, in which it is journaled as shown inFigure 2, and carried a worm 8 at its free end. An arm 9 extends fromthe casing 6 at a suitable angle and carries a side view mirror I0constructed and employed in a manner well known in the art. To thecasing B is pivotally attached a signal arm ll terminating in a head l2on which is depicted a suitable signal l3, such as an arrow, which mayalso be illuminated by a lamp M if desired.

The pivotal attachment of the arm H to the casing 6 is made by means ofa shaft l5 journaled in the casing 6 and fixed to the arm, asillustrated in Figure 3. Within the casing, a gear segment I6 is fixedto the shaft, for a purpose which will presently be described.

In the casing 6 is also journaled a worm gear ll meshing with the worm8, as illustrated in Fig. 2. A link I8 is articulated at one end l9 tothe gear I! and has its free end formed as a toothed rack meshing withthe gear segment IS. A free link 2| is loosely mounted on the shaft 15and pivotally attached to the link 18 in order to hold the rack 20 infirm engagement with the gear segment.

In the operation of the device as thus far described, it will be evidentthat rotation of the gear Why the motor-driven worm 8 causes the gearsegment IE to oscillate, and with it the shaft I5 and signal arm H. Thegearing is so dimensioned and the signal arm so positioned that thelatter is concealed behind the mirror arm 9 at the upper limit of theoscillation. The gear tooth connection between the member I6 and therack eliminates play that would otherwise occur in the oscillation ofthe arm H. Further, the gear arrangement increases the amplitude of theoscillation for a given relation of centers, since substantially thewhole of the rack 20 is beyond one or the other end of the teeth of gearIt at the limits of the oscillation.

The pivot end of the signal arm H is also formed as a housing 22 tocontain certain electrical parts which are assembled before the arm isapplied on the shaft [5. An insulated disk 23 is loosely mounted on anenlarged portion l5 of the shaft l5. This disk has one face engaging thecasing 6 and its other or exposed face fitted with a conducting ring 24.The latter is formed with a predetermined number of equidistant steps 25which function as ratchet teeth in a manner presently to be described.Adjacent to the disk is another insulating member 26 fixed to the shaftby a set screw 21. Extending from the circumference of the member 26 isa pivotally mounted angular contact finger or brush 28 maintained infrictional engagement with the ring 24 by a spring 29.

In the operation of this portion of mechanism, the member 26 with thebrush 28 obviously oscil- ;lates with the shaft I5. In doing so, itengages successive steps 25 on successive oscillations. The parts are sodimensioned that the amplitude of oscillation of the member 28 issubstantially equal to the distance between adjacent steps 25. Thus, themember 28 acts as a pawl on the ring 24 as a ratchet .and drives thering and disk 23 through one revolution when all of the steps have beenonce engaged.

The wall of the casing 6 engaged by the disk 23 has a dead or insulatedspot 38, as shown in Figure 3 and a contact pin 30' extends from thering 2 3 through the disk and into engagement with the wall of thecasing. Thus, the pin 24 is grounded through the casing except when inengagement with the dead spot 36, and the latter is so located as to bethus engaged after one revolution of the disk 23 in the mannerdescribed.

As shown in the wiring diagram in Figure 6, one side of the motor 2 isconnected to the battery 3! which is grounded at 32. The other side ofthe motor is grounded at 33 through a conductor 34 in which isinterposed a spring-return switch 35. The motor is started on closingthe switch, but this particular circuit is held enclosed onlymomentarily.

Another conductor 36 extends from the battery or input side of the motorthrough the lamp [4 and to the oscillating brush 23. Another conductor31 extends from the brush to the other side of the motor. The casing 6is represented at 38 as being grounded, it being understood that thegrounds 32 and 33 are comprised in the metallic structure of the vehicleas in ordinary practice.

The starting of the motor is sufficient to move the pin 38 oif the deadspot 30, whereupon a circuit is completed through the battery, motor,conductor 3?, brush 28, ring 2% and casing 6 independently of the switchcircuit. A similar circuit is at the same time made through conductor 36and lamp Hi. Both circuits are broken when the pin returns to the deadspot 30, and for the next operation, the switch circuit is employed tostart the motor and take the pin 39' off the dead spot 39 as alreadydescribed.

The conductors may conveniently be housed within the armor 3 and thesignal arm ll, especially for connection to the oscillating brush 23 andthe lamp It.

For assembly purposes, one end of the sleeve 3 is split at 4 andtapered, with a nut 5' threaded thereon to tighten the sleeve on theshaft 4 in any desired position of adjustment.

It will be seen in Figure 1 that the signal head I2 is striped red at 40and white at 4!, while the arrow I3 is also red. The striping ispreferably opaque and the arrow transparent. Thus, although theilluminated arrow may not be conspicuous in daylight, the opaquestriping presents a very effective signal.

When idle, the signal arm is inconspicuous since it is concealed behindthe mirror arm 9. Further, it is within view of the driver who canobserve its operation directly and without resorting to a pilot light orsimilar indicator. The device is constructed of a relatively smallnumber of simple and inexpensive parts and is quickly installed on aVehicle.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it will be understood that various alternations in thedetails of construction may be made without departing from the scope ofthe invention, as indicated by the appended claim.

What I claim is:

An oscillating device comprising a fixed support, a shaft journaledtherein, means for oscillating said shaft, a conducting brush carried bysaid shaft, a conducting ring loosely mounted on said shaft and engagedby said brush, said ring having spaced steps engageable successively bysaid brush, whereby said ring is rotated by oscillation of said brush, aconductor extending from said ring into engagement with said support,said support having an insulated spot engageableperiodically by saidconductor.

FRANK THIEL.

